# संस्कार (saṃskāra)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/samskara

संस्कार (saṃskāra) is a Sanskrit word meaning cleansing the body, toilet, attire, forming the mind, training, education, correction, including in an astronomical sense, the correct formation or use of a word, correctness and purity of pronunciation or expression, making sacred or consecrating. Its 22 recorded definitions are grouped into 10 contexts, among them Sacramental Rites and Purificatory Ceremonies, Act of Making, Perfecting, Preparing, or Adorning, Correction, Correctness, and Purity (Linguistic/Technical).

- **Roots:** कृ (kṛ), 1. कृ (1. kṛ)
- **Etymology:** E. सम् implying perfection, कृ to make, अण् aff. and सुट् augment — E. sam implying perfection, kṛ to make, aṇ aff. and suṭ augment
- **SLP1:** `saMskAra`  **IAST:** saṃskāra  **Devanagari:** संस्कार
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samskara_%28Indian_philosophy%29
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/samskara/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### Sacramental Rites and Purificatory Ceremonies (9 definitions)
- a sacred or sanctifying ceremony that purifies from sin and leads to regeneration  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a sacred or sanctifying ceremony, one which purifies from the taint of sin contracted in the womb and leading to regeneration (12 such ceremonies are enjoined on the first three or twice-born classes in Manu-smṛti (Title) ii, 27, viz. 1. गर्भा (garbhā) धान (dhāna), 2. पुं - सवन (puṃ-savana), 3. सीमन्त (nta) ो (sīmanto) न्नयन (nnayana), 4. जात - कर्मन् (jāta-karman), 5. नामकर्मन् (nāmakarman), 6. निष्क्रमण (niṣkramaṇa), 7. अन्न - प्रा (anna-prā) शन (śana), 8. चूडा - कर्मन् (cūḍā-karman), 9. उपनयन (upanayana), 10. केशा (keśā) न्त (nta), 11. समावर्तन (samāvartana), 12. विवाह (vivāha), qq.vv.; accord. to Gautama-dharma-śāstra (Title) viii, 8 &c. there are 40 Saṃskāras), GṛS.; Manu-smṛti (Title); MBh. &c. ( Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 188; 192 &c., Religious Thought and Life in India, also called ’Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 353 ) [ ID=227023 ]
- any purificatory ceremony  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > any purificatory ceremony, W. [ ID=227025 ]
- 1. Completing, accomplishing, or perfecting. 2. Apprehension or conception. 3. The power of memory or recollection. 4. Faculty in general. 5. An essential purificatory rite or ceremony among Hindus. 6. Embellishment, decoration, or elegance. 7. Purity or perfection. 8. Preparing, cooking, or compounding food or medicine. 9. Purification or consecration. 10. Impression, form, or mould.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > संस्कार (saṃskāra) [Printed book page 876 ] संस्कार (saṃskāra) m. ( - रः (-raḥ) ) 1 Completing, accomplishing, finishing, perfecting. 2 Apprehension, conception. 3 The power of memory, the faculty of recollection. 4 Faculty in general, one of the twenty-four qualities enumerated by logicians. 5 An essential Page877 and purificatory rite or ceremony amongst the Hindus; as those of the three first classes, commencing with conception and ending with marriage; or गर्भाघानं (garbhāghānaṃ) sacrifice on conception; पुंसवनं (puṃsavanaṃ) on vitality in the fœtus; सीमन्तोन्नयनं (sīmantonnayanaṃ) in the fourth, sixth, or eighth month; जातकर्म्म (jātakarmma) giving the infant clarified butter out of a golden spoon to taste, before dividing the navel string; नामकरणं (nāmakaraṇaṃ) naming the child on the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, or hundred and first day: निःक्रमणं (niḥkramaṇaṃ) carrying him out to see the moon on the third lunar day of the third light fortnight, or to see the sun in the third or fourth month; अन्नप्राशनं (annaprāśanaṃ) feeding him with rice in the sixth or eighth month, or when he has cut teeth: चूडाकार्य्यं (cūḍākāryyaṃ) tonsure in the second or third year: उपनयनं (upanayanaṃ) investiture with the string in the fifth, eighth, or sixteenth year: विवाहः (vivāhaḥ) or marriage is the tenth and last Saṃskāra. 5 Embellishment, decoration, elegance. 6 Purity, perfection. 7 Preparing as an article of medicine or food, cooking, dressing, compounding, &c. 8 Purification, consecration. 9 Impression, form, mould. E. सम् (sam) implying perfection, कृ (kṛ) to make, अण् (aṇ) aff. and सुट् (suṭ) augment. [ ID=39795 ]
- 1. Completing or purification. 2. A purifying ceremony. 3. Embellishment or purity. 4. Preparation or apprehension. 5. Faculty, memory, or mould.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > संस्कार (saṃskāra) [Printed book page 797-a ] सं - स्कार (saṃ-skāra) ( रः ) ((raḥ)) 1. m. Completing; purification; ceremony of purifying; embellishment; purity; preparation; apprehension; faculty; memory; mould. [ ID=39472 ]
- 1. Completing, finishing, or perfecting. 2. Apprehension or conception. 3. The power of memory or recollection. 4. Faculty in general. 5. A purificatory Hindu rite or ceremony. 6. Embellishment, decoration, or elegance. 7. Purity or perfection. 8. Preparing, cooking, dressing, or compounding medicine or food. 9. Purification or consecration. 10. An impression, form, or mould.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > संस्कार (saṃskāra) [Printed book page 746-b ] संस्कार (saṃskāra) m. ( - रः (-raḥ) ) 1. Completing, accomplishing, finishing, perfecting. 2. Apprehension, conception. 3. The power of memory, the faculty of recollection. 4. Faculty in general, one of the twenty-four qualities enumerated by logicians. 5. An essential and purificatory rite or ceremony amongst the Hindus; as those of the three first classes, commencing with conception and ending with marriage; or गर्भाधानं (garbhādhānaṃ) sacrifice on conception; पुंसवनं (puṃsavanaṃ) on vitality in the fœtus; सीमन्तोन्नयनं (sīmantonnayanaṃ) in the fourth, sixth, or eight month; जातकर्म्म (jātakarmma) giving the infant clarified butter out of a golden spoon to taste, before dividing the navel string; नामकरणं (nāmakaraṇaṃ) naming the child on the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, or hundred and first day: निष्क्रमणं (niṣkramaṇaṃ) carrying him out to see the moon on the third lunar day of the third light fortnight, or to see the sun in the third or fourth month; अन्नप्राशनं (annaprāśanaṃ) feeding him with rice in the sixth or eighth month, or when he has cut teeth; चूडाकार्य्यं (cūḍākāryyaṃ) tonsure in the second or third year; उपनयनं (upanayanaṃ) investiture with the string in the fifth, eight, or sixteenth year; विवाहः (vivāhaḥ) or marriage is the tenth and last Sanskāra. 5. Embellishment, decoration, elegance. 6. Purity, perfection. 7. Preparing as an article of medicine or food, cooking, dressing, compounding, &c. 8. Purification, consecration. 9. Impression, form, mould. E. सम् (sam) implying perfection, कृ (kṛ) to make, अण् (aṇ) aff. and सुट् (suṭ) augment. [ ID=41765 ]
- 1. Preparing, arranging, cultivation, or education. 2. Purification, sacrament, consecration, or any rite or ceremony, especially funeral obsequies. 3. Mental impression.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > संस्कार (saṃskāra) [Printed book page 571 ] संस्कार (saṃskāra) m. preparing, arranging; cultivation, education; purification, sacrament, consecration, any rite or ceremony, esp. funeral obsequies; impression (ph.). [ ID=33930 ]
- 1. Preparation, purification, or adornment. 2. A domestic religious rite or sacrament of consecration. 3. A mental impression or disposition left by past experiences.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > संस्कार (saṃskāra) [Printed book page 263-a ] saṃskāra, m. —1. a working over, a preparing or purification; esp. a technical Page263-b+ 50 proceeding with a thing; an adorning or adornment, 17 5; —2. a domestic religious rite to be performed upon or observed by every member of the three upper castes, prop. his preparation or purification; sacrament, consecration, 59 2 N.; —3. impression; an impression produced on the mind or a disposition formed in the mind by something past ( e. g. deeds of a former existence, a past conversation, etc. ), but which has ceased to work on the mind, 40 4. [ √1kṛ, ‘do,’ + sam, 1087d.] [ ID=4331 ]
- 1. Making perfect, perfecting, completing, finishing, polishing, refining, perfection, refinement, education, accomplishment 2. Forming in the mind, conception, idea, notion 3. Impression, form, mould, impression on the mind or memory 4. The power of memory, faculty of recollection, self-reproductive quality, instinct 5. Operation, influence 6. Preparation, making ready, cooking, dressing, compounding 7. Decoration, embellishment, ornament, elegance 8. Making sacred, hallowing, consecration, dedication 9. Making pure, purification, purity 10. A sanctifying or purificatory rite or essential ceremony 11. Funeral obsequies 12. A polishing stone  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > संस्कार (saṃskāra) [Printed book page 1041-b ] Saṃs-kāra, as, m. forming well or thoroughly, making perfect, perfecting, completing, finishing, polishing, refining, perfection, refinement, education, accomplishment; forming in the mind, conception, idea, notion; impression, form, mould; impression on the mind or memory; the power of memory, faculty of recollection, self-reproductive quality (one of the twenty-four qualities enumerated in the Vai- śeṣika branch of the Nyāya phil.); any faculty, capacity, instinct; operation, influence; preparation, making ready, preparation of food, &c., cooking, dressing, compounding; decoration, embellishment, ornament, elegance; making sacred, hallowing, con- secration, dedication; consecration of a king, &c. making pure, purification, purity; a sanctifying or purificatory rite or essential ceremony (enjoined on all the first three or twice-born classes; the following are the twelve purificatory rites given in Manu II. 27, but of these ten only are enjoined according to some authorities, the tenth and eleventh being omitted: 1. garbhādhāna, ‘embryo-reception,’ on the first sigh of conception, sometimes on a woman's attain- ing maturity: 2. puṃ-savana, ‘male-production,’ on the first signs of vitality in the embryo: 3. sī- mantonnayana, ‘parting the hair’ of a pregnant woman in the fourth, sixth, or eighth month of her first pregnancy: 4. jāta-karman, ‘birth-ceremony,’ i. e. giving the infant butter out of a golden spoon before cutting the navel-string: 5. nāma-karman or nāma-karaṇa, ‘naming-rite’ on the tenth or twelfth day after birth: 6. niṣkramaṇa, ‘taking out’ the child when three months old to see the sun or, according to some, to look at the moon: 7. an- na-prāśana, ‘feeding with boiled rice’ in the sixth month after birth: 8. cūḍā-karman or cūḍā-ka- raṇa, ‘tonsure-rite,’ i. e. shaving the head all but the cūḍā or one lock in the first or third year after birth: 9. upa-naya or upa-nayana, ‘investiture’ with the sacrificial thread, see upa-naya; this is the most important of all the Saṃskāras: 10. ke- śānta, ‘cutting off the hair:’ 11. sam-āvartana, ‘returning,’ a rite performed on the student's return home after completing his studies: 12. vivāha, Page1041-c+ 79 ‘marriage:’ other Saṃskāras are mentioned as peculiar to various parts of India, e. g. an-avalobhana, per- formed by a pregnant woman to prevent disappointment or miscarriage; Viṣṇu-bali, an offering to Viṣṇu on the seventh month of pregnancy; svargārohaṇa, sūrya-vilokana, karṇa-vedha, q. q. v. v.); any rite or ceremony; funeral obsequies; a polishing stone. —Saṃskāra-ja, as, ā, am, produced by purificatory rites. —Saṃskāra-tattva, am, n., N. of part of Raghu-nandana's Smṛti-tattva. —Saṃskāra- pūta, as, ā, am, rendered pure by sacred rites, purified by refinement. —Saṃskāra-bhāskara, as, m., N. of a work on the Saṃskāras by Saṅkara. —Saṃskāra-rahita or saṃskāra-varjita = saṃskā- ra-hīna below. —Saṃskāra-vat, ān, atī, at, possess- ing refinement, cultivated. —Saṃskāravat-tva, am, n. the being possessed of refinement. —Saṃskāra- vidhi, is, m. the rules of Saṃskāra, the law concern- ing purificatory rites. —Saṃskāra-hīna, as, ā, am, destitute of purificatory rites; ( as ), m. a man of one of the three classes who has not been invested with the sacred thread or received the other purifica- tory ceremonies (in consequence of which neglect he becomes a Vrātya or outcast). —Saṃskārādhikārin (°ra-adh°), ī, iṇī, i, one who has a right to receive or observe all the purificatory ceremonies. [ ID=48179 ]
- purificatory rites for householders  
  *The Purana Index*
  > संस्कार (saṃskāra) [Printed book page 3-550 ] Saṃskāras — purificatory rites for house-holders; these do not help without the eight ātmaguṇas (s.v. Kriyā yoga). M. 52. 17, 30. [ ID=15507 ]

### Act of Making, Perfecting, Preparing, or Adorning (4 definitions)
- putting together, accomplishment, purification, preparation, polishing, and rearing  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 1120,2] सं - स्कार (saṃ-skāra) m. ( ifc. f( आ (ā) ). ) putting together, forming well, making perfect, accomplishment, embellishment, adornment, purification, cleansing, making ready, preparation, dressing (of food), refining (of metals), polishing (of gems), rearing (of animals or plants), GṛŚrS.; MBh.; Kāv., &c. [ ID=227017 ]
- 1. Preparation or dressing of food. 2. Refining of metals or polishing of gems. 3. Cleansing or purifying. 4. Embellishment, decoration, or attire. 5. Rearing of animals or plants. 6. Correct formation or use of a word. 7. Training or education. 8. Correctness of pronunciation or expression. 9. A purificatory rite or sacrament. 10. Cremation. 11. Mental impression or after-effect. 12. Mental creation.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > संस्कार (saṃskāra) [Printed book page 326-2 ] संस्कार (saṃskāra) saṃ-skāra, m. [√kṛ] preparation, dressing ( of food ); refining ( of metals etc. ); polishing ( of gems ); cleansing, purifying; embellishment, decoration, adornment; rearing ( of animals or plants ); toilet, attire ( rare ); correct formation or use ( of a word ); training, education; correctness ( of pronunciation or expression ); purificatory rite, domestic consecration ( applicable to all members of the first three castes ), sacrament; sacrament of the dead, cremation ( rare ); mental impression ( left by causes no longer operative and sts. dating from a previous birth; there are three kinds, vega, impulse, sthiti-sthāpaka, elasticity, and bhāvanā, reproductive imagination); after-effect; creation of the mind ( regarded by it as real though actually nonexistent, such as material phenomena and all connected therewith; B. ): -tā, f. abst. ɴ. of a cpd. ending in samskāra (= mental impression); -tva, n. decoration: caskhuṣāṃ saṃskāra-tvaṃ sam-āp, become a feast to the eye; -nāman, n. sacramental name (= our baptismal name ); -maya, a. ( —° ) consisting in the consecration of ( rite ); -vat, a. grammatically correct; -viśiṣṭa, pp. better prepared ( food ). [ ID=18467 ]
- 1. Forming thoroughly. 2. Refining or polishing. 3. Embellishment or decoration. 4. Education or forming of the mind. 5. A purificatory rite. 6. A ceremony in general. 7. Investiture with the sacred cord. 8. Consecration. 9. Obsequies. 10. Preparation of food or medicine. 11. Impression or form. 12. A self-productive quality. 13. Apprehension or conception. 14. Resolution.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > संस्कार (saṃskāra) [Printed book page 743-03 ] संस्कार (saṃskāra) m. 1. Forming well or thoroughly; 2. refining, polishing, मणिः प्रयुक्तसम्स्कारः (maṇiḥ prayuktasamskāraḥ) R. iii.18; 3. embellishment, decoration, e.g. स्वभावसुंदरं वस्तु न संस्कार (saṃskāra) मपेक्षते (svabhāvasuṃdaraṃ vastu na saṃskāramapekṣate); 4. forming of the mind, education, संस्कार (saṃskāra) पूतेन वरं वरेण्यं सरस्वती (saṃskārapūtena varaṃ vareṇyaṃ sarasvatī) ( नुनाव (nunāva) ) K.S. vii.90; 5. a purificatory rite, निषेकादिर्द्विजन्मना कार्यः शरीरसंस्कार (saṃskāra) ः (niṣekādirdvijanmanā kāryaḥ śarīrasaṃskāraḥ) M. ii.26. (Manu enjoins twelve purificatory rites at ii.27; others enumerate sixteen); 6. a ceremony in general; 7. investiture with the sacred cord, M. iii.43; 8. the consecration of a thing; 9. obsequies; 10. preparation (as of an article of food or medicine, e.g. सूदान्संस्कार (saṃskāra) कुशलान् (sūdānsaṃskārakuśalān) ); 11. impression, form, mould, e.g. यन्नवे भाजने लग्नेः संस्कार (saṃskāra) ो नान्यथा भवेत् (yannave bhājane lagneḥ saṃskāro nānyathā bhavet); 12. the self-productive quality; (three Sanskāras are recognized in the Vaiśeshika philosophy, viz., भावना (bhāvanā), वेग (vega) and स्थितिस्थापकता (sthitisthāpakatā) ); 13. apprehension, conception; 14. resolution, अहो स्थिरसंस्कार (saṃskāra) ा व्यवहारार्थिनः (aho sthirasaṃskārā vyavahārārthinaḥ) Mrich. ix. [ ID=39089 ]
- 1. Completing. 2. Perfecting or perfection. 3. Embellishment, decoration, or ornament. 4. Institution and education. 5. Purification. 6. A purificatory rite. 7. Ceremony in general. 8. Investiture with the holy cord. 9. Consecration of a king. 10. Obsequies. 11. Purity. 12. Preparing as an article of medicine or food. 13. Impression, form, or mould. 14. Power of memory. 15. Apprehension, conception, or resolution. 16. Self-reproductive quality.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > संस्कार (saṃskāra) [Printed book page 0986-a ] संस्कार (saṃskāra) saṃskāra, i. e. sam-kṛ + a, m. 1. Completing. 2. Perfecting, perfection, Utt. Rāmac. 135, 6. 3. Embellishment, decoration, Daśak. in Chr. 181, 19; Pañc. 185, 25; orna- ment, Mālat. 126, 9. 4. Institution and education, Man. 1, 111. 5. Puri- fication. 6. A purificatory rite, Man. 2, 26; 27; Vedāntas. in Chr. 219, 13. 7. Ceremony in general, Man. 3, 43. 8. The investiture with the holy cord, Man. 11, 150. 9. Consecra- tion (of a king), Man. 7, 2. 10. Ob- sequies, Lass. 17, 11. 11. Purity. 12. Preparing as an article of medicine or food. 13. Impression, form, mould, Śāk. d. 133 (Sch. a polishing stone). 14. The power of memory, Kathās. 7, 19. 15. Apprehension, conception, Rājat. 5, 228; resolution, Hit. 112, 5 ( vi-smṛta-pūrva-, adj. Forgetting his former resolution). 16. The self- reproductive quality (Ballantyne, i. e. vitality, elasticity, and mental impres- sion), Bhāṣāp. 29; 156. — Comp. Agni-, m. 1. consecration of fire. 2. burning of the dead body, Man. 5, 69. Dus-, m. bad inclination, Rājat. 5, 228. Keśa-, m. dressing the hair, Megh. 33. Pātra-, m. cleaning a vessel that has been used. Punaḥsaṃskāra, i. e. punar-, m. renewed investiture, Man. 11, 150. Śarīra-, m. 1. adorning the person. 2. purification of the body by various ceremonies, initiation, etc., Man. 2, 26. [ ID=15245 ]

### Correction, Correctness, and Purity (Linguistic/Technical) (2 definitions)
- 1. Correction, including in an astronomical sense. 2. The correct formation or use of a word.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > correction (also in an astronomical sense, Sūryas. ), correct formation or use of a word, Nir.; Sarvad. [ ID=227020 ]
- correctness and purity of pronunciation or expression  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > correctness, purity ( esp. of pronunciation or expression), MBh.; R. &c. [ ID=227021 ]

### Education, Training, and Character Formation (1 definition)
- forming the mind, training, education  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > forming the mind, training, education, R.; Ragh. [ ID=227019 ]

### Funeral Rites and Obsequies (1 definition)
- cremation  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 1120,3] the ceremony performed on a dead body ( i.e. cremation), R. [ ID=227024 ]

### General Consecration and Sanctification (1 definition)
- making sacred or consecrating  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > making sacred, hallowing, consecration, Mn.; MBh. &c. [ ID=227022 ]

### Mental Formations/Creations (Philosophical) (1 definition)
- a mental conformation or creation of the mind  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > ( pl., with Buddhists) a mental conformation or creation of the mind (such as that of the external world, regarded by it as real, though actually non-existent, and forming the second link in the twelvefold chain of causation or the fourth of the 5 Skandhas), Dharmasaṃgraha (Title) 22; 42 [ ID=227027 ]

### Mental Impressions, Memory, and Cognitive Faculties (1 definition)
- 1. The faculty of memory. 2. Mental impression or recollection.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the faculty of memory, mental impression or recollection, impression on the mind of acts done in a former state of existence (one of the 24 qualities of the Vaiśeṣikas, including भावना (bhāvanā), ‘the faculty of reproductive imagination’), Kaṇ.; Sarvad. ( Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 69 ) [ ID=227026 ]

### Physical Cleansing, Toilet, and Attire (1 definition)
- cleansing the body, toilet, attire  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > cleansing the body, toilet, attire, Hariv. [ ID=227018 ]

### Polishing Stone (Literal Object) (1 definition)
- a polishing stone  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a polishing stone, MW. [ ID=227028 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

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